Lone worker safety check

ABSTRACT

A lone worker system for performing a safety check is provided. The lone worker system includes a mobile device. The mobile device includes a memory storing a safety check application thereon and a processor. The processor is coupled to the memory and executes the safety check application. The processor initiates the safety check application with respect to the service call. The safety check application executes a use-case safety monitoring of the mobile device with respect to a service call to implement the safety check. The use-case safety monitoring detects an emergency situation with respect to a connectivity of the mobile device to a server, an activity of the mobile device, and a motion of the mobile device.

BACKGROUND

In general, building mechanics and elevator technicians employ a varietyof safety equipment when responding to a service call. At present, whileconventional safety systems extend to harnesses, there is no mechanismfor automatic tracking of a mechanic's/technician's location and/orescalating the service call in case of emergency (e.g., a fall).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to one or more embodiments, a lone worker system forperforming a safety check is provided. The lone worker system comprisesa mobile device comprising: a memory storing a safety check applicationthereon; and a processor, coupled to the memory, executing the safetycheck application; and wherein the processor initiates the safety checkapplication with respect to the service call, wherein the safety checkapplication executes a use-case safety monitoring of the mobile devicewith respect to a service call to implement the safety check, whereinthe use-case safety monitoring detects an emergency situation withrespect to one or more of a connectivity of the mobile device to aserver, an activity of the mobile device, and a motion of the mobiledevice.

According to one or more embodiments or the above lone worker system,the safety check application can activate an emergency mode thatescalates the service call in response the detection of the emergencysituation by the use-case safety monitoring.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the above lone workersystems, the safety check application can execute an emergency alert ata conclusion of a count by an emergency timer of the safety checkapplication under the emergency mode.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the above lone workersystems, the emergency alert can comprise a notification to at least oneof a supervisor, a call center operator, and emergency responder.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the above lone workersystems, the notification can comprise at least one of an automaticphone call, an automatic email, and an automatic text message.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the above lone workersystems, the safety check application can detect a location of themobile device.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the above lone workersystems, the lone worker system can comprise the server, and the servercan be in communication with the mobile device.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the above lone workersystems, the server can execute an emergency call based on acommunication from the safety check application of the mobile deviceunder an emergency mode.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the above lone workersystems, the server can execute an emergency call based on the mobiledevice being out-of-communication at a conclusion of a count by anemergency timer.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the above lone workersystems, the safety check application can determine the connectivity ofthe mobile device to the server by determining a location of the mobiledevice.

According to one or more embodiments, a processor-implemented method forperforming a safety check is provided. The processor-implemented methodis implemented by a safety check application stored on a memory of amobile device. The safety check application is executed by a processorof the mobile device and the processor is coupled to the memory. Theprocessor-implemented method comprises initiating, by the processor, thesafety check application with respect to the service call; andexecuting, by the safety check application, a use-case safety monitoringof the mobile device with respect to a service call to implement thesafety check, wherein the use-case safety monitoring detects anemergency situation with respect to one or more of a connectivity of themobile device to a server, an activity of the mobile device, and amotion of the mobile device.

According to one or more embodiments or the above processor-implementedmethod, the safety check application can activate an emergency mode thatescalates the service call in response the detection of the emergencysituation by the use-case safety monitoring.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the aboveprocessor-implemented methods, the safety check application can executean emergency alert at a conclusion of a count by an emergency timer ofthe safety check application under the emergency mode.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the aboveprocessor-implemented methods, the emergency alert can comprise anotification to at least one of a supervisor, a call center operator,and emergency responder.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the aboveprocessor-implemented methods, the notification can comprise at leastone of an automatic phone call, an automatic email, and an automatictext message.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the aboveprocessor-implemented methods, the safety check application can detect alocation of the mobile device.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the aboveprocessor-implemented methods, the server can be in communication withthe mobile device.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the aboveprocessor-implemented methods, the server can execute an emergency callbased on a communication from the safety check application of the mobiledevice under an emergency mode.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the aboveprocessor-implemented methods, the server can execute an emergency callbased on the mobile device being out-of-communication at a conclusion ofa count by an emergency timer.

According to one or more embodiments or any of the above lone workersystems, the safety check application can determine the connectivity ofthe mobile device to the server by determining a location of the mobiledevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed inthe claims at the conclusion of the specification. The forgoing andother features, and advantages thereof are apparent from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 depicts a lone worker system according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 2 depicts a process flow with respect to a lone worker systemaccording to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 3 depicts a process flow with respect to a lone worker systemaccording to one or more embodiments; and

FIG. 4 depicts a process flow with respect to a lone worker systemaccording to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosedapparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification andnot limitation with reference to the FIGS.

Embodiments herein provide a robust and efficient lone worker system,method, and/or computer program product (herein collectively referred toas lone worker system) that tracks and monitors building mechanics andelevator technicians in case of an emergency. The lone worker systemutilizes triggers based on an activity in/of a mobile device, a mobiledevice location, a service call duration, etc. to escalate a normalsituation to an emergency mode. Once in an emergency mode, the loneworker system can send notifications to supervisors, call centeroperators, and emergency responders with respect to a length of time thelone worker system has been in that emergency mode or other factors.

FIG. 1 depicts a lone worker system 100 according to one or moreembodiments. The lone worker system 100 can be an electronic, computerframework comprising and/or employing any number and combination ofcomputing device and networks utilizing various communicationtechnologies, as described herein. The lone worker system 100 can bescalable, extensible, and modular, with the ability to change todifferent services or reconfigure some features independently of others.

The lone worker system 100 can function in a building 102 within which amobile device 110 is located. The building 102 can be any residentialand/or commercial structure, such as a high-rise, an apartment complex,a school, a house, a factory, stadium, a warehouse, concert venue, ashopping mall, a sports venue, etc., that includes machinery, such as anescalator or an elevator, that requires maintenance by a buildingmechanic and an elevator technician.

The mobile device 110 can be any computing device comprising one or moreof a processor 111, a memory 113, a safety check application 114, asensor 116, a transceiver 117, and a global positioning receiver 118.Examples of the mobile device 110 include, but are not limited to,tablet computers, smartphones, and smartwatches. In accordance with oneor more embodiments, the global positioning receiver 118 may beoptional. The processor 111 (also referred to as a processing circuit)can be coupled via a system bus to the memory 113 and various othercomponents of the mobile device 110.

The memory 113 is an example of a tangible storage medium readable. Thememory 113 can include a read only memory (ROM) and a random accessmemory (RAM). The ROM is coupled to the system bus and may include abasic input/output system (BIOS), which controls certain basic functionsof the mobile device 110. The RAM is read-write memory coupled to thesystem bus for use by the processor 111.

Software for execution by the lone worker system 100 may be stored inthe memory 113 (e.g., the memory 113 can store the safety checkapplication 114). The software is stored by the memory 113 asinstructions for execution by the processor 111 to cause the lone workersystem 100 to operate, such as described herein with reference to FIGS.2-4. Note that the software can be implemented as computer programproduct, and the execution of computer program products is discussed inmore detail herein.

The safety check application 114 tracks and monitors building mechanicsand elevator technicians in case of an emergency. An emergency is ascenario where the building mechanic or the elevator technician is indanger of injury or death, such as fall down an elevator shaft or someother threatening situation. Thus, the safety check application 114 canoperate with respect to one or more safety protection modes (e.g., inaccordance with one or more embodiments, a set of three safetyprotection modes are operated simultaneously by the safety checkapplication 114). Each of the one or more safety protection modes canoperate, such that the mobile phone checks-in with the server 131 everyonce in a while, as further described herein.

According to one or more embodiments, the one or more safety protectionmodes can comprise a connectivity mode (e.g., disconnected for apredefined time or longer), an activity mode (e.g., inactivity for apredefined time or longer), and a motion mode (e.g., swift movement ator above a benchmark value) to identify emergencies. Each mode canescalate a normal situation to an emergency mode based on a predefinedcondition and/or after a predefined amount of time. The safety checkapplication 114 can send notifications to supervisors, call centeroperators, and emergency responders (who can assist with or resolve theemergency) once one of the safety protection modes escalates to theemergency mode.

The connectivity mode can indicate an emergency with respect to whetherthe whether the mobile device 110 is disconnected and for how long(e.g., a disconnection event). A disconnected mobile device 110 canindicate that the elevator technician or building mechanic within alocation that a wireless signal cannot reach. In turn, if the mobiledevice 110 remains disconnected and the elevator technician or buildingmechanic does not check-in, it may be beneficial to raise an alarm(escalate to the emergency mode under which notifications may beinitiated). In this way, elevator technicians and building mechanics canbe required to leave a dead zone, receive a connection via the mobiledevice 110, and send a notification through the mobile device 110 toprove that they remain safe while working.

The activity mode can indicate an emergency because an idle mobiledevice 110 (e.g., inactive mobile device event) may indicate that theelevator technician or building mechanic is disabled, unconscious, orseparated from the mobile device 110. In turn, if the mobile device 110remains inactive and the elevator technician or building mechanic doesnot check-in, it may be beneficial to raise an alarm (escalate to theemergency mode under which notifications may be initiated).

Motion mode can indicate an emergency because swift movement of themobile device 110 (e.g., fall motion event) may indicate that theelevator technician or building mechanic has fallen. In turn, it may bebeneficial to raise an alarm (escalate to the emergency mode under whichnotifications may be initiated).

According to one or more embodiments, the safety check application 114can activate warning alerts (e.g., “are you safe”) at predefined timeintervals (e.g., once every two hours) by sound and/or vibrating throughthe mobile device 110 or in response to detecting any escalation by oneof the safety modes. The safety check application 114 can execute as abackground service to detect usage that resets the warning alerts (e.g.,automatically reset a time if the mobile device 110 is used during thepredefined time interval). Note that the predefined time intervals andthe warning alerts can be reset by building mechanic/elevator techniciandriven activity (e.g., manual reset).

In addition, the safety check application 114 can, in an emergency,automatically trigger an emergency alert or call (e.g., a notification)when a shaking of the mobile device 110 is detected and if the mobiledevice 110 is in a locked state. Further, the safety check application114 can automatically detect a fall (utilizing the sensor 116) based ona speed detection against gravity. The speed detection against gravitycan be with respect to predefined ranges, such that one or morebenchmark values demark one or more predefined ranges (e.g., a firstpredefined range of 0 to 2.74 meters per second and a second predefinedrange 2.75 meters per second to 9.8 meters per second) as furtherdescribed herein. For example, when the sensor 116 detects that themobile phone has performed a swift movement in the second predefinedrange would triggers the emergency alert. According to one or moreembodiments, the safety check application 114 can implement a graceperiod (e.g., one minute, five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes,etc.) where the sending of notifications are delayed with respect to anyescalation.

The sensor 116 can be an electro-mechanical component that detectsevents or changes in an environment and outputs the events or changes assensor signals to other components of the safety check application 114.In accordance with one or more embodiments, the sensor 116 can be anaccelerometer that detects/measures an acceleration of the mobile device110. For example, the sensor 116 can be utilized by the safety checkapplication 114 to detect an acceleration or rate of change of velocityof the mobile device 110 with respect to gravity (on a range of Zero toapproximately 9.81 meters per second squared).

The transceiver 117 can be input/output (I/O) and/or communicationadapter coupled to the system bus of the mobile device 110. For example,the I/O adapter may be a small computer system interface (SCSI) adapter.The transceiver 117 can communicate signals through wired or wirelessconnections. The global positioning receiver 118 can be a component thatoperates with respect to any global navigation satellite system and/orany cell tower based positioning system to acquire geolocation and timeinformation of the mobile device 110.

The lone worker system 100 can also comprise a server 130, which can beany computing device comprising one or more of a processor 131, a memory133, a remote safety application 134, and a transceiver 137. Note thatcomponents of the server 130 that are similar to components of themobile device 110 are not reintroduced for ease of explanation. Theserver 130 can operate in a similar matter as the mobile device 110, inview of receiving communications from the mobile device 110.

For instance, the mobile device 110 and the server 130 can communicatevia a connection 150 supported by one or more networks (such as network151 as shown in FIG. 1). The one or more networks can include, but arenot limited to, IP Network, Modem, Wi-Fi, mobile communication (e.g.,GSM), satellite, cellular, etc. Note that each item of FIG. 1 can berepresentative of one or more of that item such that, for example, themobile device 110 can comprise one or more processors 111, one or morememories 113, etc.

That is, the server 130 can utilize the remote safety application 134 totrack and monitor building mechanics and elevator technicians in case ofan emergency. For example, the remote safety application 134 can utilizeany escalation with respect to whether communications indicating one ormore of a connectivity mode, an activity mode, and a motion mode arereceived. In turn, the remote safety application 134 can sendnotifications to supervisors, call center operators, and emergencyresponders in case of emergency.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a process flow 200 performing a safety check withrespect to a lone worker system 100 is depicted according to one or moreembodiments. The process flow 200 begins at block 210, where theprocessor 111 initiates the safety check application 114 on the mobiledevice 110 with respect to a service call.

According to one or more embodiments, when a building mechanic orelevator technician receives a call to service an elevator (e.g.,service call), that building mechanic or elevator technician can utilizethe mobile device 110 to activate the safety check application 114.Further, the building mechanic or elevator technician can manually signinto the safety check application 114 at the start of a workday or at anarrival at the jobsite. Once activated, the building mechanic orelevator technician can enter an identification of the service call,which associates the location of the elevator, the estimated time ofrepair or replacement, and/or other credentials with the operations ofthe safety check application 114.

According to one or more embodiments, the safety check application canautomatically sign in at the start of a workday or at an arrival at thejobsite. Once activated, the safety check application can automaticallydownload the identification of the service call, the estimated time ofrepair or replacement, and/or other credentials with the operations ofthe safety check application 114.

According to one or more embodiments, the safety check application 114on the mobile device 110 can be initiated remotely by communications viathe connection 150 from the processor 131 of the server 130 (withrespect to a service call). In this way, if the remote safetyapplication 134 does not receive any communications from the safetycheck application 114, the server 130 can execute an emergency alert orcall based on the mobile device 110 being out-of-communication ordisconnected at a conclusion of a count by a timer or an emergency timerwithin the server 130 (e.g., a timer of the remote safety application134). The emergency timer can comprise one or more connection timers,activity timers, and motion timers. The emergency alert or call caninclude sending notifications to supervisors, call center operators, andemergency responders. Notifications can be an automatic phone call, anautomatic email, an automatic text message, etc.

At block 220, the safety check application 114 detects a location of themobile device 110. The safety check application 114 can detect thelocation of the mobile device 110 by utilizing the global positioningreceiver 118 or other mechanisms described herein. The location can becommunicated to the server 130 (e.g., the remote safety application134).

At block 230, the safety check application 114 executes a use-casesafety monitoring. The use-case safety monitoring can also be executedby the remote safety application 134. The use-case safety monitoring ofthe mobile device 110 with respect to the service call is animplementation of one or more safety modes while the building mechanicor elevator technician is working on the service call. In operation, theuse-case safety monitoring by the safety check application 114 detects acondition indicating an emergency with respect to one or moreconnectivity, activity, and motion modes. Once the condition isdetected, the process flow 200 proceeds to block 240.

At block 240, the safety check application 114 escalates the servicecall. In this regard, the safety check application 114 can activate anemergency mode. The emergency mode is an operation state, under theconnectivity, activity, and motion modes of the safety check application114, that indicates that an emergency may be occurring or may haveoccurred at the location of the service call. Once the emergency modeactivated, an emergency timer of the safety check application 114 canperform a count that provides the building mechanic or elevatortechnician time to de-escalate the service call and confirm that noemergency exists.

According to one or more embodiments, the safety check application 114can execute the emergency alert or call at a conclusion of the count bythe emergency timer. Further, the server 130 can also execute theemergency alert or call on behalf of the safety check application 114upon receiving a communication via the connection 150 from the safetycheck application 114. With respect to the connectivity mode, if theremote safety application 134 of the server 130 does not receive anycommunications from the safety check application 114, the server 130 canexecute an emergency alert or call based on the mobile device 110 beingout-of-communication or disconnected at a conclusion of a count by theemergency timer within the server 130.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a process flow 300 for performing a safety checkwith respect to the lone worker system 100 according to one or moreembodiments is depicted. The process flow 300 begins at block 330, wherethe safety check application 114 and/or the server 130 activate ause-case safety monitoring. The safety check application 114 and/or theserver 130 activate the use-case safety monitoring with respect to theservice call to implement the safety check. The use-case safetymonitoring detects one or more of connectivity, activity, and motionmodes to determine an emergency.

For example, sub-blocks 332, 334, and 336 detail the types of detectionsthat can be made by use-case safety monitoring. At sub-block 332, thesafety check application 114 and/or the server 130 detects whether theconnection 152 of FIG. 1 is present. At sub-block 334, the safety checkapplication 114 detects whether activity is present with respect to themobile device 110. Activity, in this regard, can include any useroperation of the mobile device 110, such as making a phone call,changing a volume, adjusting brightness, turning on a phone light, etc.At sub-block 336, the safety check application 114 performs a motiondetection. The motion detection can be performed utilizing the sensor116 to detect/measure an acceleration of the mobile device 110). Themotion detection can include a detection of a swift movement of themobile device 110 that indicates that the elevator technician orbuilding mechanic has fallen.

Upon event detection with respect to sub-blocks 332, 334, and 336, theprocess flow 300 can proceed to block 350. At block 350, the safetycheck application 114 executes an emergency timer. For instance, thesafety check application 114 initiates a count by the emergency timerbased on the detection of the emergency. Note that, in accordance withone or more embodiments, the emergency timer can be different based onwhether the emergency timer was initiated within sub-block 332, 334, or336. For example, a shorter count can be utilized by the emergency timerin the event of a detected fall in contrast to a lost connectionscenario.

At block 360, the safety check application 114 initiates an emergencymode. The safety check application 114 can initiate the emergency modein response to a conclusion of the count by the emergency timer. Whenthe safety check application 114 is in the emergency mode, the safetycheck application 114 executes an emergency alert or call.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a process flow 400 with respect to the loneworker system 100 according to one or more embodiments. The process flow400 begins at block 430, where the safety check application 114 isactively tracking the operations of the mobile device 110. For instance,the safety check application 114 can utilize a use-case safetymonitoring operation to detect whether the connection 152 is present,whether activity is present, and/or whether motion is present. If one ormore of these events are present (e.g., event detection 431 occurs:disconnection event; inactive mobile device event; fall motion event),the process flow 400 proceeds to one or more of the corresponding blocks452, 454, and 456 as described herein.

At block 452, the safety check application 114 continues to detect thatthere is no connection (e.g., connection 152 is disconnected). While noconnection remains or while the connectivity of the mobile device 110 isabsent, a connection timer operates a count. If the count concludes andthe connection 152 does not return, then the process flow 400 proceedsto block 460. If the connection 152 returns before the count isconcluded by the connection timer, the process flow 400 returns toactive tracking the operations of the mobile device 110 at block 430.Note that the safety check application 114 can determine whether theconnection 152 is present by detecting a location of the mobile device(if any connection is reinstated) and resetting the connection timer.

At block 454, the safety check application 114 continues to detect thatthere is no activity. While the mobile device 110 is inactive or whilethe activity by the mobile device 110 is absent, an activity timeroperates a count. If the count concludes and no activity is detected,then the process flow 400 proceeds to block 460. If the mobile device110 is used before the count is concluded by the activity timer, theprocess flow 400 returns to actively tracking the operations of themobile device 110 at block 430.

At block 456, the safety check application 114 detects whether there isa subsequent motion (e.g., a motion indicating that the mobile device110 was picked up after being dropped). According to one or moreembodiments, if the sensor 116 determines that the mobile device 110subsequently moves at a rate at or below 2.75 meters per second, thenthe motion is determined to be within a normal operation and the initialfall motion event can be disregarded.

Further, in response to detecting a fall motion event (e.g., swiftmovement of the mobile device 110), a motion timer operates a count. Forinstance, the safety check application 114 can initiate the count by themotion timer when the motion by the mobile device 110 exceeds abenchmark value. If the sensor 116 determines that the mobile device 110moved at a rate above 2.75 meters per second (e.g., the benchmarkvalue), then the process flow 400 proceeds to block 460 after apredetermined amount of time and/or if no subsequent motion is detectedby the sensor 116 of the mobile device is absent (to avoid notificationsfor accidental phone drops). If the mobile device 110 is used before thecount is concluded by the motion timer, the process flow 400 returns toactively tracking the operations of the mobile device 110 at block 430.

At block 460, the safety check application 114 enters the emergencymode. When the safety check application 114 is in the emergency mode,the safety check application 114 executes an emergency alert or call.

Note that the emergency mode can be enabled or disabled. For instance,as shown by arrows 471 and 472, the safety check application 114 canexit and enter the emergency mode actively tracking. Exit and enter canbe manual operations. Manual activation can include when the buildingmechanic or elevator technician manually selects to enter the emergencymode (e.g., if the building mechanic or elevator technician isexperience a heart attack). Manual deactivation can include when thebuilding mechanic or elevator technician manually selects to exit theemergency mode (e.g., if the building mechanic or elevator technicianaccidently triggers the emergency mode and needs to cancel; if thesafety check application 114 properly entered the emergency mode but anemergency did not exist).

In view of the embodiments of the lone worker system 100, it is notedthat the safety check application improves the operations of the mobiledevice 110 and/or the server 130 by providing a mechanism thereon thatdetects emergencies which are otherwise not detectable by the mobiledevice 110 and/or the server 130.

Embodiments herein can include a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the embodiments herein.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe embodiments herein may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, to perform aspects of the embodiments herein.

Aspects of the embodiments herein are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerreadable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

Aspects of the embodiments are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations, schematics, and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus, and/or systems according to embodiments. Further, thedescriptions of the various embodiments have been presented for purposesof illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to theembodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology usedherein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, thepractical application or technical improvement over technologies foundin the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art tounderstand the embodiments disclosed herein

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willbe further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one more other features,integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.

The flow diagrams depicted herein are just one example. There may bemany variations to this diagram or the steps (or operations) describedtherein without departing from the spirit of embodiments herein. Forinstance, the steps may be performed in a differing order or steps maybe added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered apart of the claims.

While the preferred embodiment has been described, it will be understoodthat those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may makevarious improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of theclaims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain theproper protection.

1. A lone worker system for performing a safety check, the lone workersystem comprising: a mobile device comprising: a memory storing a safetycheck application thereon; and a processor, coupled to the memory,executing the safety check application; and wherein the processorinitiates the safety check application with respect to a service call,wherein the safety check application executes a use-case safetymonitoring of the mobile device implement the safety check, wherein theuse-case safety monitoring detects an emergency situation with respectto each of a connectivity of the mobile device to a server, an activityof the mobile device, and a motion of the mobile device, whereindetecting the activity of the mobile device comprises detecting a useinactivity of a predefined time or longer, wherein the safety checkapplication activates an emergency mode that escalates the service callin response the detection of the emergency situation by the use-casesafety monitoring, wherein the safety check application executes anemergency alert at a conclusion of a count by an emergency timer of thesafety check application under the emergency mode or the server executesan emergency call based on a communication from the safety checkapplication of the mobile device under the emergency mode.
 2. (canceled)3. (Canceled)
 4. The lone worker system of claim 1, wherein theemergency alert comprises a notification to at least one of asupervisor, a call center operator, and emergency responder.
 5. The loneworker system of claim 4, wherein the notification comprises at leastone of an automatic phone call, an automatic email, and an automatictext message.
 6. The lone worker system of claim 1, wherein the safetycheck application detects a location of the mobile device.
 7. The loneworker system of claim 1, wherein the lone worker system comprises theserver, and wherein the server is in communication with the mobiledevice.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The lone worker system of claim 7, wherein theserver executes an emergency call based on the mobile device beingout-of-communication at a conclusion of a count by an emergency timer.10. The lone worker system of claim 1, wherein the safety checkapplication determines the connectivity of the mobile device to theserver by determining a location of the mobile device.
 11. Aprocessor-implemented method for performing a safety check, theprocessor-implemented method being implemented by a safety checkapplication stored on a memory of a mobile device, the safety checkapplication being executed by a processor of the mobile device, theprocessor being coupled to the memory, the processor-implemented methodcomprising: initiating, by the processor, the safety check applicationwith respect to a service call; and executing, by the safety checkapplication, a use-case safety monitoring of the mobile device toimplement the safety check, wherein the use-case safety monitoringdetects an emergency situation with respect to each of a connectivity ofthe mobile device to a server, an activity of the mobile device, and amotion of the mobile device, wherein detecting the activity of themobile device comprises detecting a use inactivity of a predefined timeor longer, wherein the safety check application activates an emergencymode that escalates the service call in response the detection of theemergency situation by the use-case safety monitoring, wherein thesafety check application executes an emergency alert at a conclusion ofa count by an emergency timer of the safety check application under theemergency mode or the server executes an emergency call based on acommunication from the safety check application of the mobile deviceunder the emergency mode.
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. The loneworker system of claim 11, wherein the emergency alert comprises anotification to at least one of a supervisor, a call center operator,and emergency responder.
 15. The lone worker system of claim 14, whereinthe notification comprises at least one of an automatic phone call, anautomatic email, and an automatic text message.
 16. Theprocessor-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the safety checkapplication detects a location of the mobile device.
 17. Theprocessor-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the server is incommunication with the mobile device.
 18. (canceled)
 19. Theprocessor-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the server executes anemergency call based on the mobile device being out-of-communication ata conclusion of a count by an emergency timer.
 20. Theprocessor-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the safety checkapplication determines the connectivity of the mobile device to theserver by determining a location of the mobile device.